Luoyang Once More (2)
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
"How... did you know?"
"Chun Il's abilities turned out to be more impressive than I expected."
"......"
The culprit was Chun Il!
But to uncover even those matters?
I'd handpicked him myself, but damn, he was truly exceptional.
"Of course, I don't know the full details of those incidents. Still, couldn't you have at least mentioned that such things occurred?"
"I wanted to, Father. But those were palace affairs. I had to tread carefully to avoid any misunderstandings."
Father nodded after a moment's thought.
"Fair enough."
"I planned to discuss it with you quietly in person."
"I see. Even so, do you have any idea how worried your mother and I were when we heard you'd been tangled up in those events?"
"I can only apologize."
What could I say?
Best to just prostrate myself.
Fortunately, my parents understood that I couldn't put such things in letters.
Even sending them via the express couriers, it would've been too risky to commit those details to paper.
Once back in my room after meeting my parents, Palgap rushed over in surprise.
"Young master, why do you look so pale all of a sudden?"
"Father chewed me out."
"......?"
I explained everything, and Palgap nodded.
"Well, you deserved it."
"......"
I shot him a wounded look, but he was unwavering.
"More than that, the problem is you diving headfirst into dangers no one else would dare touch."
"I'm the aggrieved party here. That wasn't my intention."
"......"
But Palgap's gaze as he looked at me felt off.
"What?"
"It's nothing."
Night fell, and we headed into Luoyang's bustling night market.
I'd left the Jin Yu Warrior behind at the inn since he couldn't move openly.
So my group now consisted of me, Palgap, and three guards—five in total.
Honestly, I wanted to rest, but I'd pushed through the hassle to gauge Luoyang's atmosphere.
It had been nearly a year since my last visit.
As a merchant, checking for changes in the city was essential.
Luoyang... hadn't changed much.
Suddenly, I recalled my first time here in this life.
The place where the Murim Alliance—the ones who'd killed me—held sway.
Just knowing that had made me dread coming here. But not anymore.
I'd preempted the items they were after last time and even poached their talent, Heo Un.
Those must've been good medicine for me.
I could face the city without a care now.
Though seeing their buildings still stirred something bitter inside.
As I walked the night streets, my eyes met those of a man standing in an inn's courtyard.
"......!"
Master?
I hurried over and clasped my hands in greeting.
"How have you been?"
"Ah, it's the branch leader."
"Yes, I'm here for the Hundred Great Merchant Groups' gathering."
"I see."
Master gestured calmly toward the inn's interior.
"Come in for some tea."
"Of course."
I didn't refuse his invitation.
Come to think of it, this was the inn the Cheongin Escort Service always used in Luoyang.
I'd heard it was beyond the Murim Alliance's reach...
Master led me to his room and personally brewed and poured the tea.
"Thank you. I'll enjoy it."
"Please do."
As I took a sip, his voice transmission reached me.
- Yang Eun-jik is dead, right?
"......"
- Word is his superiors took him out...
My entourage included disciples from the Snow Wind Palace.
They'd been watching my moves, so he surely knew I was involved.
- That was me.
- A dangerous move.
- I know. But thinking of all the lives that would've been lost otherwise, I had no choice.
"......"
- Besides, I was already deeply entangled. One wrong step, and our identities could've been exposed—yours and mine. I had to act. My apologies for worrying you.
Master sipped his tea and transmitted back.
- Still... you did well. That bastard deserved to die.
Eh... was that praise?
- Actually, taking him out was my job.
What?
But Master offered no further explanation.
- I wanted to thank you.
Now that I thought about it, his reaction when I mentioned Yang Eun-jik had been unusual.
They must've been deeply connected somehow.
But he hadn't killed him earlier out of concern for public eyes or his own exposure.
"You've gathered here in Luoyang for the upcoming Yongbong Martial Meet, I presume."
"Yes, that's right."
Not a secret, so he could ask openly. Made sense—constant transmissions might look suspicious.
"I'll likely stay until the Yongbong Martial Meet ends."
"I see."
Master nodded slowly.
"I'm leaving tomorrow. Got a commission."
"A commission?"
"Escort duty."
He continued.
"With the Yongbong Martial Meet here, crowds will flock to the city."
"Naturally."
"Sure, there are upright heroes focused on martial virtue, but the riffraff shows up too. Think those scum will leave young women alone?"
"Ah..."
"Families often send daughters to relatives during the event, or to the Huashan Sect if no kin are nearby."
Right, Huashan handled that role too.
The closest major sect was Shaolin Temple, but it was off-limits to women.
Huashan, being Taoist but lay-oriented and accepting female disciples, volunteered.
Word was, hosting young women during the Yongbong had become a tradition as old as the event itself.
And it brought Huashan unexpected benefits.
Like reputation.
"Usually, Murim Alliance warriors and Huashan escorts handle it, but some couldn't join due to circumstances."
"You've taken their commission."
"Exactly."
So tomorrow, he'd escort those women from here to Huashan.
"See you in Hubei, then."
"Not quite."
"......?"
"Personally, and since the Yongbong is intriguing, I plan to observe."
- But when we meet again, we may not be able to greet each other. Bear with it.
"......?"
With that, our talk wrapped up. Master saw me out of the inn.
I rejoined my group and wandered Luoyang's night market again.
Scum, huh...
Thinking of them made my neck prickle.
Even we merchants despised them.
They saw merchants as easy marks, flipping stalls over trivial matters.
That was the least of it.
Injuries from weapons were commonplace.
And if someone stepped in to intervene, things escalated paradoxically.
These hot-blooded fools itched to join fights and show off their skills.
So A fights B. If A loses, C steps in for A against B.
If B loses, D replaces B.
Excuses abounded.
"I'm that warrior's sworn brother! Let me avenge him!"
"As fellow unorthodox, don't we have to have each other's backs?"
"Turns out we ate at the same inn. That's fate, so..."
"He wore the same color as me—surely heaven's will that I avenge him!"
These chains of private brawls didn't break easily.
Excuses were easy to fabricate.
But patrols of Murim Alliance elites shattered them. Their strikes were merciless, sending scum fleeing at the sight.
To us merchants, they were reliable guardians.
I chuckled wryly at the thought.
Separate from their dirty deeds, they handled this meticulously.
Well...
Even the Murim Alliance couldn't neglect it and survive.
They squeezed protection money from merchants—failing here would make them no better than bandits!
.
.
.
A few days later.
I dressed sharply.
Today was the Hundred Great Merchant Groups' gathering, so I'd gone more lavish than usual.
Palgap and my guards matched, decked out as we headed to the venue.
Same as last time: Hong Lan Pavilion.
Luoyang's largest tavern, it had become the go-to for these meets.
No different this time.
Inside, a familiar face greeted us warmly.
"Welcome."
Bok Yun, vice branch leader of the Gwangjun Merchant Group.
"When did you arrive?"
"Just today."
We exchanged smiles and greetings.
"Must've been a tough trip."
"Lucky the venue wasn't down south—otherwise, from Yonyeong..."
Yeah, if it were Hubei or Jiangnan...
Aigoo, the thought was nightmare fuel.
Then the Gwangjun Merchant Group leader approached, greeting Father with Bok Yun. Father returned it graciously.
But no time for long chats yet.
"Seo-ho, let's greet the others first."
"Yes."
Networking with other Hundred Great leaders and heirs was crucial.
Skill mattered in merchant circles, but connections drove many deals.
For big ventures, you sought trusted allies first.
And those here were mostly leaders or heirs—capable, reliable sorts. Bonds forged here were priceless.
Of course, undercurrents of rivalry simmered.
With Father's introductions, I greeted the other leaders.
Many I'd met before, but protocol demanded Father present me.
I waited politely, cycling through everyone.
And then...
"Oh! We meet again."
"Greetings, Namgung Kang, leader of the Baekcheon Merchant Group."
Namgung Kang of Baekcheon was here too.
Not someone I cared to see.
But my heart no longer raced, no cold sweat.
Poaching Heo Un from under him and snagging their destined items had bolstered my confidence.
"Have a good time."
"Thank you."
I watched his retreating back, chin high.
Look forward to it.
I'll smack your skull and bury you deep!
Only after all the leaders did I chat with my peers.
"Good to see you again."
"Yeah."
"......"
The taciturn Sa Gang vice leader, my close friend Bok Yun, Han Baek-geon of Hong Nang Merchant Group, and others.
Somehow, I'd built ties with quite a few in this life.
"Heard you're defending the silver plaque again for fun."
"Yeah, so they say."
"Reminds me—you guarded it last gathering."
I nodded at Han Baek-geon's words.
"I did."
"The secret...?"
"I'd love to know too."
I grinned.
"Not exactly a secret."
I glanced around, then whispered.
"Just suspect everything nearby. For instance..."
I grabbed Bok Yun's collar and slammed him to the floor.
Thud!
"What the hell?!"
Han Baek-geon yelped in shock.
But I brushed my hands dismissively.
"Fakes can impersonate the real deal like this."
"Fake?!"
Attention on me wasn't ideal, but impersonating my friend? Unforgivable.
I'd spotted the impostor instantly.
His energy was off.
Bok Yun switching from real to fake meant the real one was detained somewhere.
That pissed me off.
"M-Me, a fake?! What nonsense is this? And this outrage... I'll file a formal protest!"
"Shh!"
I pressed a finger to my lips.
"Quiet. If you want to leave in one piece."